All Exhibitions

August 8, 2025, in collaboration with the Palestinian Feminist Collective (PFC). This immersive memorial experience offered attendees a first-hand view of Gaza through VR, using 360-degree footage captured by Gazan artists and journalists since 2022. The exhibit documented daily life, cultural sites, schools, mosques, markets, beaches, and agricultural areas, preserving Gaza’s heritage through technology and a feminist perspective. The event was held in memory of Yahya Sobeih, a Gazan photojournalist with the Phoenix of Gaza team who was killed on May 7, 2025, and featured two sessions, from 4–6 PM and 6–9 PM, at a central Manhattan location
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The Phoenix of Gaza XR Event took place on May 22, 2025, at the 7th House Gallery in Brooklyn, NY. The program featured an immersive VR exhibit from 1–4 PM, allowing attendees to experience Gaza’s history, culture, and resilience, followed by keynote talks from 4–6 PM. The event was powered by GHTech (George Hofstetter Technologies Inc.) and sponsored by Palaver, SuRe, and other partners, bringing together technology, storytelling, and community in support of Gaza

On May 18, 2025, the Phoenix of Gaza XR was featured as part of the “Together for Palestine: Remember, Reflect, Rebuild” event at Ocean View Park in Santa Monica, CA, commemorating the 77th anniversary of the Nakba. The exhibition invited attendees to step inside Gaza through immersive VR, preserving and sharing the stories, culture, and resilience of its people alongside community activities, art, and cultural performances. The event was sponsored by organizations including the Palestinian Youth Movement, Palestinian Christians for Justice, Al-Awda: The Palestine Right to Return Coalition, Palestinian Feminist Collective, Arab American Civic Council, Palestine Foundation, SAWA SoCal, Latino & Muslim Unity, and others.

The Phoenix of Gaza XR was featured at the University of Iowa as part of the Mechanical Engineering Graduate Seminar: Storytelling Through Immersive Technologies from May 7–10, 2025. This interactive virtual reality exhibit allowed participants to experience Gaza before and after the ongoing destruction

Gaza XR was featured at the Roots of Resilience: Charity Gala for Palestine on Saturday, May 3rd at 5 PM in the Balboa Park Recital Hall. The evening celebrated culture, community, and connection, with Gaza XR presenting its immersive VR experience that offered a powerful glimpse into life in Gaza. The gala also included live Kanafe, dinner, an auction, and storytelling, with all proceeds supporting relief efforts in Palestine.

The Phoenix of Gaza XR was presented at the House of Palestine’s 23rd Annual Lawn Program in San Diego, where attendees experienced an immersive virtual reality exhibition that brought Gaza’s neighborhoods, memories, and stories to life. The event highlighted Gaza’s resilience and humanity, engaging visitors of all ages and honoring voices too often unheard

The Phoenix of Gaza XR Project exhibit was hosted at Cal Poly Humboldt from Monday, April 28 to Friday, May 2, running 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM daily in the Great Hall. Presented by the Campus & Community Dialogue on Race with support from multiple departments and the ADPI-MENA Collective, the immersive VR exhibition invited participants to experience the stories, resilience, and heritage of Gaza through virtual reality

The Phoenix of Gaza Virtual Reality Project exhibit took place at UC Irvine on April 15 from 2–8 PM and April 16 from 8 AM–2 PM in HIB 135. The immersive VR exhibition allowed visitors to experience the stories and resilience of the people of Gaza. The event was co-sponsored by several UCI departments and programs, including Comparative Literature, Digital Humanities Exchange, Film & Media Studies, Global & International Studies, History, the Humanities Center, and the Office of Inclusive Excellence through the “Addressing Bias & Building Community” grant.

The Phoenix of Gaza XR immersive VR exhibition was hosted at the University of Maryland on April 11–12 and April 14–16, from 3–6 PM daily at IRIBE 0110. Open to the public, the exhibit offered an interactive virtual reality experience that captured the untold stories of Gaza’s people and its transformation. Visitors were able to dive into the lives of those who endured and persevered under occupation, experiencing more than just VR—it served as a testament to resilience. The event was organized in collaboration with Students for Justice in Palestine (UMD Chapter).

On April 18 and 19, at UC Riverside, the event “Eye on Palestine” featured the Phoenix of Gaza XR Experience, an interactive VR exhibition that brought to life the untold stories of Gaza’s people and their resilience. The program included multiple sessions, with the exhibition presented on Thursday, April 17th at 2 PM in Winston Chung Hall, and again on Friday and Saturday, April 18–19 at 12 PM in INTS 1113, followed by additional VR experiences in INTS 1128. Sponsored by the Chancellor’s Office Addressing Bias and Bigotry Funding Initiative, the Media & Cultural Studies Department, the Gender & Sexuality Studies Department, and the Speculative Fiction & Cultures of Science Program (SFCS), the exhibition offered an immersive platform for reflection, remembrance, and dialogue.

The Phoenix of Gaza XR is a virtual reality exhibit taking place on Wednesday, April 9th, from 1–6 PM at the Pitzer College Media Studies Gallery. Presented in collaboration with Pitzer College and Scripps Media Studies, the project uses 360° videos and a 3D replica of Gaza to document daily life, highlight its culture, history, and resilience, and preserve heritage amid widespread destruction. The exhibit serves both as an immersive archive and a testimony to what has been lost, offering visitors a powerful experience of remembrance and resistance.

On February 15, 2025, the Phoenix of Gaza XR Virtual Reality Exhibition was featured at the Western States Communication Association (WSCA) Annual Convention in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Sponsored by OFRGC, this powerful immersive experience invited attendees to explore Gaza’s resilience, transformation, and rarely heard stories beyond the headlines. Running from 10 AM to 2 PM, the event also included a special talk at noon by co founder Naim Aburaddi, who shared the vision and purpose behind the initiative. Blending cutting-edge technology with powerful storytelling, the exhibition offered a unique opportunity to engage with Gaza’s human narrative through the lens of VR.

The Phoenix of Gaza XR, created by Naim Aburaddi and Ahlam Muhtaseb, was featured as a free, immersive VR installation at the entrance of Filmhuis Den Haag. Running from March 22 to 27, the exhibit offered a powerful extended reality journey through Gaza’s history, daily life, and cultural heritage. Developed through the CSUSB xReal Lab fellowship, the project documented Gaza from 2022 to 2023 using 360-degree footage of its landmarks, traditions, and everyday moments—many of which have since been destroyed. What began as a vision of a liberated Gaza evolved into a preservation of its endangered heritage and a testament to its resilience. The exhibit was presented in collaboration with the NWO research project Virtual Reality as Empathy Machine: Media, Migration, and the Humanitarian Predicament.

On Tuesday, March 11, Islamic Relief USA hosted Advocacy Tuesday at its headquarters in Alexandria, VA, featuring The Phoenix of Gaza XR as part of a special Ramadan event. Attendees experienced Gaza’s rich history and culture through an immersive VR exhibit and took part in a hands-on Letter Writing to Congress Workshop to advocate for justice. The evening included community connection, advocacy efforts, and Iftar, making it a powerful gathering of solidarity and meaningful action.

In February, Tufts University hosted The Phoenix of Gaza, a powerful event centered around the Virtual Reality Exhibition: Journey to Gaza. The exhibition offered attendees an immersive experience into the once-vibrant life of Gaza and the ongoing destruction in the region. The event opened on February 25 with a talk and lunch featuring the project’s founders, who discussed the significance of immersive storytelling and the role of VR in preserving Gaza’s history and resilience. From February 26 to 28, the VR exhibition was available at Curtis Hall and the Campus Center, giving the Tufts community a unique opportunity to engage deeply with the narratives of Gaza’s people and reflect on their enduring strength.

At UMass Amherst on February 24–25, 2025, the Phoenix of Gaza XR offered audiences an immersive virtual reality experience into Palestinian culture and daily life in Gaza. Through 360-degree videos and images, the exhibit highlighted traditional weddings, dabke, artisanal crafts, and more, preserving stories often erased by violence and occupation. On February 25, a keynote panel further explored the role of digital media in bearing witness to Gaza’s realities, blending history, culture, and technology in a powerful act of remembrance and resistance.

The event "Explore Gaza Through Virtual Reality" took place on Saturday, December 7, from 5:30 to 9:30 PM EST at PACC in Clifton, NJ. Hosted byPalestinian American Community Center, the immersive VR exhibit featured hundreds of 360-degree videos and images, offering participants a unique experience of Gaza’s daily life, heritage, historical monuments, landmarks, markets, and universities.

On December 7, 2024, The Phoenix of Gaza XR was featured in Art of Defiance: An Interactive Resistance Exhibition at National Louis University in Chicago. The event brought together powerful storytelling through global art, film, and virtual reality, focusing on themes of oppression and the Gaza genocide. Attendees experienced a rich lineup that included community art displays, a VR tour of Gaza, live music, and local cuisine, creating an immersive and impactful day of reflection and resistance.

On October 6th, 2024, from 2 to 8 PM, the Phoenix of Gaza XR team participated in the Together 4 Palestine fundraiser in Denver, Colorado. Hosted at South Broadway Christian Church and organized by the Colorado Palestine Coalition, the event brought the community together for an afternoon of solidarity, featuring powerful art, poetry, and cultural expression. The team was honored to present their immersive VR experience, offering attendees a vivid window into life in Gaza and the enduring resilience of its people. Deep gratitude was expressed for the overwhelming support and meaningful feedback, as the event helped raise awareness and aid for Colorado families impacted by the ongoing crisis in Gaza.

As part of SLCC's Big Questions Forum themed "Contested Spaces: Surviving and Thriving in the 21st Century," the event featured "The Phoenix of Gaza XR," an immersive virtual reality experience offering a 360-degree documentation of Gaza. The project aimed to present narratives beyond the destruction, highlighting daily life and the complexities faced by Gaza's people.

The University of Redlands hosted The Phoenix of Gaza, an immersive virtual reality (VR) experience that offered attendees a powerful glimpse into the daily lives and resilience of the people of Gaza. Through cutting-edge VR technology, participants explored iconic sites such as the Great Omari Mosque, bustling marketplaces, and other significant locations while learning about the challenges faced by Gaza's residents under ongoing genocide.

“Gaza Unveiled: Virtual Reality Expedition into Pre- and Post-War Realities” was an exhibition held at Cal State San Bernardino (CSUSB) from April 16 to 18, 2024, as part of Arab Heritage Month. Co-sponsored by the Center for the Muslim and Arab Worlds and CSUSB Libraries, the event offered an immersive virtual reality experience showcasing life in Gaza before and after the war.

On April 16, California State University Palm Desert hosted “Immersive Journey to Gaza,” a virtual reality experience that offered a non-political view of daily life in Palestine before and after the conflict with Israel. Participants explored various aspects of life in Gaza, including historical sites, local traditions, markets, schools, cafes, agriculture, and more through immersive VR footage.

On March 2, 2024, the Phoenix of Gaza XR exhibition was hosted at the Celebrating Cultural Diversity and International Women’s Day event in Norco, California. Organized by Women Support Organization (WSO) California, the event brought together a vibrant community to honor diverse cultures and the strength of women worldwide. The immersive VR experience offered attendees a powerful glimpse into life in Gaza, highlighting stories of resilience and humanity often left untold. The Phoenix of Gaza XR team was honored to be part of this inspiring celebration, standing in solidarity with women and communities advocating for justice and global awareness.

The Gaza XR team, in collaboration with CSUSB's Communication Department, MSAC, PAM Caucus, and the Center for the Study of Muslim and Arab Worlds, presented an immersive virtual reality experience titled "Gaza Unveiled: A Virtual Reality Expedition into Pre- and Post-War Realities." This two-day event offered attendees a profound journey through Gaza’s past and present.